A patient will sometimes ask for the reading of some portion of the Bible, and unless the part is specified the nurse may be at a loss just where to turn. Some parts of the Scriptures are so generally known and accepted, that they can hardly fail to give hope and comfort, no matter what the religious teaching may have been heretofore.
I will suggest then in case readings are asked for. The Psalms are full of beautiful comforting thoughts and prayers. The 23d has helped many a poor soul about to take its last journey, the 37th, which begins "Fret not thyself," shows that those are truly blessed who trust in the Lord, the 51st, "Have mercy upon me, O God," teaches repentance, the 42d, "As the hart pants after the water-brooks, so longeth my soul for Thee, O God," shows the desire of the soul for God.
In the New Testament, the 14th chapter of St. John's gospel is a universal favorite, on account of its comforting thoughts "In my Father's house are many mansions." In St. Luke's gospel chapter 15th, verse 11, we have the parable of the Prodigal Son, to show how complete and perfect is God's love, and His forgiveness, when sin is forsaken. In 1st Corinthians, 15th chapter, verse 20, we have a masterly argument for the resurrection from the dead, and a life beyond the grave. In Revelations, 14th chapter, 13th verse, is a very comforting thought for those who have led a strenuous life and are in much suffering.
These few references will help, I hope, if any nurse is called upon to read the Bible, and she feels a little nonplussed as to exactly where to turn.
There are of course innumerable passages besides these, that could be found by the aid of a concordance, and which it would be wise to note on a slip of paper, ready for any call. Sometimes a patient will ask for a prayer, and it is not often that a nurse would feel competent to kneel down by the bedside and make an acceptable extemporaneous prayer, so I would suggest buying a volume of "Prayers for the Sick."
Very tiny, dainty little books can be purchased at the church book stores, full of these prayers.
In the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer are many helpful prayers.
The sentence, the collect, and the whole of the Easter service in this book are radiant with the truths of the Resurrection, and the Easter hymns are tuned to the same inspiring theme.
This last thought I leave with you. What more helpful consideration can come to a weary nurse, than that the sick one to whom she has ministered for so many weeks or months should at last, on entering in to the life Eternal, lay before the Lord of Glory, the name of the one who was with her, who helped her, who cared for her, and who was faithful to her trust to the end?